METHOD, APPARATUS AND SYSTEM FOR REALIZING FINGERPRINT TECHNOLOGY

Abstract

 A method, a device, and a system for realizing a fingerprint technology are provided. The method includes the following steps. Whether a corresponding fingerprint needs to be generated according to a data item is determined based on preset rules. If it is determined that the corresponding fingerprint needs to be generated according to the data item, fingerprint calculation is performed for the data item, and the obtained fingerprint is sent to a data receiver. If it is determined that the corresponding fingerprint does not need to be generated, a data element is sent to the data receiver. Therefore, fingerprint calculation for data items with short length and undesired data transmission during data synchronization (DS) are avoided, and the efficiency of DS is improved.

Description

[0001] The application claims the benefit of priority to China Patent Application No. 200810026009.4, filed on January 24, 2008, and entitled "METHOD, DEVICE, AND SYSTEM FOR REALIZING FINGERPRINT TECHNOLOGY", which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE TECHNOLOGY

[0002] The present invention relates to a data synchronization (DS) technology, and more particularly to a method and a system for realizing a fingerprint technology, a data sending device, and a data receiving device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Modern society is information society. A user is able to receive and send information at any time and at any place, and is able to execute application programs with a handheld device. The results of the data interaction and the application programs need to be stored in the handheld device, and also need to accord with the data of the type in other data devices. When the data in one device changes, data in other devices can be changed accordingly. This is called data synchronization (DS).

[0004] The DS technology uses a method called fingerprint, which is a value obtained from a set of data that is processed through a certain algorithm. Any change of the data may result in different fingerprints, and thus the fingerprints can effectively identify the data. Based on any data from a data element to a database a corresponding fingerprint may be generated. A server uses fingerprints to determine whether the data received from a terminal is the same as the data stored on the server. No matter the data on the server or the terminal changes, the fingerprints are different. If the fingerprint that is received is the same as that is stored, it indicates that the data on the server and the terminal are the same, and the terminal does not need to send the data. If the fingerprints are different, it indicates that the data is changed. At this time, a collision detection strategy is checked, and if the strategy is based on the data on the server, the terminal does not need to send the data either. In this way, some unnecessary data can prevent from being sent by comparing the fingerprints, and therefore, the traffic is saved. In addition, fingerprints may also be used in resumable downloading.

[0005] Various algorithms may be adopted for fingerprints. Algorithm negotiation is required to make both of the communicating parties use the same algorithm. One party sends a set of supported algorithms to the other party, and the other party finds the supported fingerprint algorithm and notifies the peer party, thus completing the algorithm negotiation. A synchronous flow used currently is as shown in FIG. 1.

1) Negotiation over the fingerprint use manner is added to PKG 1 and PKG 2.

2) The ID and the fingerprint of the data are sent in PKG 3.

3) After receiving PKG 3, the server compares fingerprints, and indicates an identification of a data element that needs to be sent by a client via PKG 4.

4) After receiving PKG 4, the client sends the required data element according the indication of the server via PKG 5.

5) After receiving PKG 5, the server returns information about a receiving state via PKG 6, and optionally sends the changed data on the server.

[0006] In the implementation of the present invention, the inventors found that the existing fingerprint technology has the following disadvantages.

[0007] The fingerprints are configured to replace long data elements with short fingerprints, and thus reduce the amount of transmitted data transmission. However, some fingerprints obtained through certain algorithms are longer than the corresponding data when a comparison is performed. At this time, it is meaningless to calculate and send the fingerprints. If the fingerprints are calculated and sent, the calculation amount of the device (particularly, a client device) is increased. Moreover, an additional interaction between the client and the server occurs for certain data items, thus wasting air interface resources. Currently, no technology has been proposed to overcome the disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present invention is directed to a method and a system for realizing a fingerprint technology, a data sending device, and a data receiving device, so as to avoid fingerprint calculation for data items with short length and undesired data transmission during the DS. Therefore, the efficiency of the DS is improved.

[0009] In an embodiment, the present invention provides a method for realizing a fingerprint technology, which includes the following steps.

[0010] Whether a corresponding fingerprint needs to be generated according to a data item is determined based on preset rules.

[0011] If it is determined that the corresponding fingerprint needs to be generated according to the data item, fingerprint calculation is performed for the data item, and an obtained fingerprint is sent to a data receiver. If it is determined that the corresponding fingerprint does not need to be generated a data element is sent to the data receiver.

[0012] In an embodiment, the present invention further provides a method for realizing a fingerprint technology, which includes the following steps.

[0013] A data item is received from a data sender.

[0014] Whether the data item is a fingerprint or a data element is determined based on preset rules. If the data item is a fingerprint, the fingerprint is compared with a stored fingerprint, and subsequent processes are implemented according to a comparison result. If the data item is a data element, the data element is compared with a stored data element, and subsequent processes are implemented according to a comparison result.

[0015] In an embodiment, the present invention further provides a data sending device, which includes a determining module, a fingerprint calculating module, and a data sending module.

[0016] The determining module is configured to determine whether a length value of a sent data item is greater than or equal to a preset minimum length value.

[0017] The fingerprint calculating module is configured to generate a corresponding fingerprint according to the data item when the determining module determines that the length value of the data item is greater than or equal to the preset minimum length value.

[0018] The data sending module is configured to send the fingerprint generated by the fingerprint calculating module to a data receiving device; or send a data element to the data receiving device when the determining module determines that the length value of the data item is smaller than the preset minimum length value.

[0019] Accordingly, in an embodiment, the present invention further provides a data receiving device, which includes a data storing module, a data receiving module, a data determining module, and a data processing module.

[0020] The data storing module is configured to store a data element or a fingerprint, in which the data element or fingerprint is compared with a received data element or fingerprint, so as to determine whether the received data element or fingerprint is changed.

[0021] The data receiving module is configured to receive a data item sent by a data sending device.

[0022] The data determining module is configured to determine whether the data item received by the data receiving module is a fingerprint or a data element based on preset rules.

[0023] The data processing module is configured to compare the fingerprint with a stored fingerprint when the data determining module determines that the received data item is the fingerprint, and implement subsequent processes according to a comparison result; or to compare the data element with stored data when the data determining module determines that the received data item is the data element, and implement subsequent processes according to a comparison result.

[0024] In an embodiment, the present invention further provides a system for realizing a fingerprint technology, which includes a data sending device and a data receiving device.

[0025] The data sending device is configured to determine whether a corresponding fingerprint needs to be generated according to a data item based on preset rules. If it is determined that the corresponding fingerprint needs to be generated according to the data item, fingerprint calculation is performed for the data item, and an obtained fingerprint is sent to a data receiving device. If it is determined that the corresponding fingerprint does not need to be generated, a data element is sent to the data receiving device.

[0026] The data receiving device is configured to receive the data item from the data sending device, and determine whether the data item is a fingerprint or a data element based on the preset rules. If the data item is a fingerprint, the fingerprint is compared with a stored fingerprint, and subsequent processes are implemented according to a comparison result. If the data item is a data element, the data element is compared with a stored data element, and subsequent processes are implemented according to a comparison result.

[0027] The embodiments of the present invention have the following beneficial effects.

[0028] By presetting a minimum length value for the data that requires fingerprint calculation, whether a fingerprint needs to be generated for the data item is determined, and whether the fingerprint or the data item is sent is determined accordingly. In this way, fingerprint calculation for data items with short length and undesired data transmission during the DS are avoided, and therefore, the efficiency of the DS is improved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] To make the technical solution under the present invention clearer, the accompanying drawings for illustrating the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art are outlined below. Apparently, the accompanying drawings are for the exemplary purpose only, and person having ordinary skill in the art can derive other drawings from such accompanying drawings without any creative effort.

FIG. 1 is a schematic flow chart of realizing a fingerprint technology in the prior art;

FIG. 2 is a schematic flow chart of a method for realizing a fingerprint technology according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic structural diagram of a system for realizing a fingerprint technology according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic structural diagram of a data sending device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic structural diagram of a data receiving device according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic structural diagram of a data processing module in the data receiving device as shown in FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0030] The following detailed description is directed to the technical solution of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the embodiments to be described are only some embodiments of the present invention. Person having ordinary skill in the art can derive other embodiments from the embodiments given herein without making any creative effort, and all such embodiments are covered in the protection scope of the present invention.

[0031] In the embodiments, the present invention provides a method and a system for realizing a fingerprint technology, a data sending device, and a data receiving device, so as to avoid fingerprint calculation for data items with short length and undesired data transmission during the DS, and improve the efficiency of the DS.

[0032] FIG. 2 is a schematic flow chart of a first embodiment for realizing a fingerprint technology according to the present invention.

[0033] The embodiment of the present invention is described by taking a client and a server as two sides of the communication, that is, the client serves as a data sender, and the server serves as a data receiver.

[0034] Firstly, a minimum length value is preset on the client, and is indicated by an identification FPLimit. FPLimit is integer data, which indicates that fingerprint calculation is performed for a data item only when the length of the data item is longer than or equal to a length specified by FPLimit. If FPLimit does not exist, fingerprint calculation is performed for all the data items. The identification is stored in Device Info, which is related to a device, and Schema is similar to:

<xs: element name ="FPLimit" type ="xs:int" minOccurs="0" />

[0035] The identification may also be stored in DS MO, and at this time, a newly-added tree structure in DS MO is as follows.

A minimum length of the data item that requires fingerprint calculation is recorded in FPLimit.
<x>/FP

State	Occurrence number	Format	Access mode
Needed	1	Node	Acquire

<x>/FP is an intermediate node, which records fingerprint-related information of the DS client.
<x>/FP/FPLimit

State	Occurrence number	Format	Access mode
Needed	0 or 1	Integer	Acquire

The node, <x>/FP/FPLimit, defines the minimum length of the data item that requires fingerprint calculation during the DS process.

[0036] In step 100, the client sends PKG 1 to the server. PKG 1 is an initial package, which carries information of synchronous negotiation parameters, including synchronous direction, synchronous behavior, ID validity, ChangeLog validity, and so on. It is well known to persons skilled in the art, and the details will not be given herein again. In the embodiment of the present invention, PKG 1 sent by the client to the server further includes FPlimit.

[0037] In step 101, the server receives PKG 1 and stores FPLimit. After determining based on preset rules, the server returns agreed or changed synchronous parameters, including synchronous direction, synchronous behavior, ID validity, ChangeLog validity, and so on, and indicates the client to send the data item.

[0038] In step 102, the client determines whether the length value of the sent data item is greater than or equal to the preset minimum length value according to the indication of the server and the preset minimum length value of the data. If the length value of the sent data item is greater than or equal to the preset minimum length value, a corresponding fingerprint is generated according to the data item, that is, fingerprint calculation is performed for the data item, and the obtained fingerprint with a preset fingerprint length is sent to the server. If the length value of the sent data item is smaller than the preset minimum length value, the data element (that is, the data item) is sent to the server. If the length of the data item is equal to the preset fingerprint length, zeros are added to the data item to make its length value equal to the preset minimum length value, and then the data item is sent to the server.

[0039] After the server receives the data item from the client, if the length of the received data item is shorter than the preset fingerprint length, or is longer than the preset fingerprint length and shorter than the preset minimum length value, it can be directly determined that it is a data item, that is, the data element, and is directly compared with data stored on the server. If the data length is the preset fingerprint length, the data item is compared with the fingerprint. If the data length is the preset minimum length value, the data item is truncated to the preset fingerprint length value, and is directly compared with the data stored on the server.

[0040] The data item determined to be the data element is compared with the data item stored on the server. If the two data items are the same, it indicates that the data on the server and the data on the client are the same, and the client does not need to send the data. If the two data items are different, it indicates that the data is changed. At this time, a collision detection strategy is checked, and if the strategy is based on the data on the server, the server does not need to update the data either. If the strategy is based on the data on the client, the server updates the stored data according to the data item sent by the client.

[0041] The data item determined to be the fingerprint is compared with the fingerprint on the server, and subsequent processes are implemented. If the two data items are the same, it indicates that the data on the server and the data on the client are the same, and the terminal does not need to send the data. If the two data items are different, it indicates that the data is changed. At this time, a collision detection strategy is checked, and if the strategy is based on the data on the server, the client does not need to send the data either.

[0042] If the strategy is based on the data on the client, in step 103, the server indicates the client to send a data item. In this manner, some unnecessary data transmission can be avoided by comparing the fingerprints, and thus the traffic is saved.

[0043] Optionally, an identification FPFlag may be added to the data item sent by the client to the server. FPFlag is an integer data. If FPFlag=0, it indicates that the data item is to be sent. If FPflag≠0, it indicates that the fingerprint of the data item is to be sent. Different values of FPFlag are adopted to identify different fingerprint algorithms.

[0044] It should be noted that, the set of the fingerprint algorithms supported by both the client and the server may be pre-determined through negotiation. In this case, the newly-added structure in DS MO is as follows.

<x>/FP/<x>

State	Occurrence number	Format	Access mode
Needed	One or more	Node	Acquire

<x>/FP/<x>is an intermediate node, which records one or more fingerprint algorithms supported by the DS client.
<x>/FP/<x>/Algorithm

State	Occurrence number	Format	Access mode
Needed	1	Integer	Acquire

<x>/FP/<x>/Algorithm is a leaf node, which records the fingerprint algorithms supported by the DS client. The following is the definitions of the numbers.

Value	Description
1	Changed Log
2	Changed Count
3	Hash
4	Fingerprint calculation is performed for partial data items (Sub-Item specific)

Definitely, the information may also be stored in Device Info. The following is Schema of a fingerprint generation algorithm:
<xs:element name="FPAlgorithm" type="xs:integer" />
The values are configured to indicate the types of the fingerprint algorithms, and the definitions of the values may be the same as those in the above table.

[0045] It should be noted that, the client and the server select a sub-set of fingerprint algorithms supported by both sides from the set of supported fingerprint algorithms during the DS. When fingerprint calculation is needed for the data item on the client, a fingerprint algorithm is selected from the sub-set to perform the calculation, and is identified by FPFlag. The obtained fingerprint is sent to the server.

[0046] After receiving the data item from the client, the server determines whether the data item is a fingerprint or a data item according to the identification FPFlag of the data item. If the server receives a data item, the data item is compared with the stored data item, and subsequent processes are implemented according to a comparison result. If the two data items are the same, it indicates that the data on the server and the data on the client are the same, and the server does not need to update the data. If the two data items are different, it indicates that the data is changed. At this time, a collision detection strategy is checked, and if the strategy is based on the data on the server, the server does not need to update the data either. If the strategy is based on the data on the client, the server updates the stored data according to the data item sent by the client.

[0047] If the server receives a fingerprint, the server compares the received fingerprint and the stored fingerprint, and subsequent processes are implemented according to a comparison result. If the two fingerprints are the same, it indicates that the data on the server and the data on the client are the same, and the terminal does not need to send the data. If fingerprints are different, it indicates that the data is changed. At this time, a collision detection strategy is checked, and if the strategy is based on the data on the server, the client does not need to send the data either.

[0048] If the strategy is based on the data on the client, in step 103, the server indicates an identification of the data element that needs to be sent by the client.

[0049] In step 104, the client sends the data element indicated by the server.

[0050] In step 105, the server returns information about a receiving state to the client, and optionally, returns the changed data.

[0051] In step 106, the client returns a data receiving state to the client, and sends a mapping command to the server.

[0052] In step 107, the server returns state information for the mapping command to the client.

[0053] In step 108, the client returns a DS result to the user.

[0054] In the method for realizing a fingerprint technology provided in the embodiment of the present invention, by presetting a minimum length value for the data that requires fingerprint calculation, whether a corresponding fingerprint needs to be generated for the data item is determined, and whether the fingerprint or the data item is sent is determined accordingly. Moreover, an identification is set for each data item to notify the receiver whether a fingerprint or a data item is sent, and to notify the receiver of the used fingerprint algorithm. In this way, fingerprint calculation for data items with short length and undesired data transmission during the DS are avoided, and the efficiency of the DS is improved.

[0055] FIG. 2 is a schematic flow chart of a second embodiment for realizing a fingerprint technology according to the present invention.

[0056] As shown in FIG. 2, it is assumed that the data in Table 1 needs to be sent on the client, the fingerprint length after a fingerprint algorithm is 8 bytes, and FPLimit is set to 20 bytes. The third column in Table 1 is fingerprint, and it should be noted that fingerprint calculation is only performed for data items with a length longer than or equal to FPLimit (20 bytes). It should be noted that, if the data item is 8 bytes, zeros are added to the data till it reaches 20 bytes. When the server finds a data of 20 bytes, the data is directly truncated to 8 bytes, and is treated as a data element.

Table 1

LUID	Data	FingerPrint
1012	Tom	-
1013	BEGIN:VCARD VERSION:2.1 EMAIL: aaa@bbb.com TEL;HOME:(123) 456-789 END:VCARD	0xBDEFEOFFAAFFBBAA
1014	Bike	-
1015	A File with length 10000 bytes	0xAAEF3111577566DD
1017	abcd.com	abcd.com000000000000

[0057] In step 100, the client sends PKG 1 to the server. PKG 1 is an initial package, which carries information of synchronous negotiation parameters, including synchronous direction, synchronous behavior, ID validity, ChangeLog validity, and so on. It is well known to persons skilled in the art, and the details will not be given herein again. In the embodiment of the present invention, PKG 1 sent by the client to the server further includes FPlimit.

Pkg#1:

<FPLimit> 20 </FPLimit>

[0058] In step 101, the server receives PKG 1 and stores FPLimit. After determining based on preset rules, the server returns agreed or changed synchronous parameters.

[0059] In step 102, the client sends PKG 3, and according to Table 1, if a fingerprint is found, the ID and the fingerprint are sent; if no fingerprint is found, the ID and the data item are sent.

[0060] After the server receives PKG 3, if the length of the data in the received data item is shorter than the fingerprint length (8 bytes), or is longer than 8 bytes and shorter than 20 bytes, it can be directly determined that it is a data item, and is directly compared with the data item stored on the server. If the data length is 8 bytes, the data item is compared with the fingerprint stored on the server. If the length is 20 bytes, the data item is truncated to 8 bytes, and is directly compared with the data item stored on the server.

[0061] Data items 1012 and 1014 may be determined as data items, and are compared with the data items stored on the server. If the two data items are different, and the client is superior in a collision strategy, subsequent processes can be directly performed, and the server does not need to notify the client to send the two data items via PKG 4.

[0062] For a data item 1017 having a length of 20 bytes, the data item 1017 is truncated to 8 bytes and then compared with the data item, and subsequent processes are implemented afterwards. If the data items are the same, it indicates that the data on the server and the data on the client are the same, and the server does not need to update the data. If the data items are different, it indicates that the data is changed. At this time, a collision detection strategy is checked, and if the strategy is based on the data on the server, the server does not need to update the data either. If the strategy is based on the data on the client, the server updates the stored data according to the data item sent by the client.

[0063] For data items 1013 and 1015, since the length of the data in the data item is 8 bytes, the data item is compared with the fingerprints on the server, and subsequent processes are implemented. If the fingerprints are the same, it indicates that the data on the server and the data on the client are the same, and the terminal does not need to send the data. If the fingerprints are different, it indicates that the data is changed. At this time, a collision detection strategy is checked, and if the strategy is based on the data on the server, the client does not need to send the data either.

[0064] If the strategy is based on the data on the client, in step 103, the server indicates the client to send the data item. In this manner, some unnecessary data transmission can be avoided by comparing the fingerprints, and thus the traffic is saved.

[0065] The following steps are the same with those in the first embodiment, which is also well known to persons skilled in the art, and the details will not be given herein again.

[0066] FIG. 2 is a schematic structural view of a third embodiment for realizing a fingerprint technology according to the present invention.

[0067] It is assumed that the data in Table 2 needs to be sent on the client. The third column in Table 2 is an identification FPFlag, and the values in the column are set by the device. "0" represents the data item, and the other values represent that fingerprints are sent, and indicate different fingerprint algorithms. Table 3 shows a set of fingerprint algorithms supported by a client and a server through negotiation.

Table 2

LUID	Data	FPFlag
1012	Tom	0
1013	BEGIN:VCARD VERSION:2.1 EMAIL: aaa@bbb.com TEL;HOME:(123) 456-789 END:VCARD	1
1014	Bike	0
1015	A File with length 10000 bytes	3
1017	abcd.com	0

Table 3

Value	Description
1	Changed Log
2	Changed Count
3	Hash
4	Fingerprint calculation is performed for partial data items (Sub-Item specific)

In step 100, the client sends PKG 1 to the server. PKG 1 is an initial package, which carries information of synchronous negotiation parameters, including synchronous direction, synchronous behavior, ID validity, ChangeLog validity, and so on. It is well known to persons skilled in the art, and the details will not be given herein again.

Pkg#1:

<FPLimit> 20 </FPLimit>

[0068] In step 101, after determining based on preset rules, the server returns agreed or changed synchronous parameters.

[0069] In step 102, the client sends PKG 3, which includes a data item. According to Table 2, if FPflag#0, fingerprint calculation is performed for the data item, and the ID and the fingerprint are sent; if FPFlag=0, the ID and the data item are sent. It should be noted that, the values of FPFlag are determined according to the result whether the length value of the data item is greater than or equal to the preset minimum length.

[0070] After receiving PKG 3, the server determines that 1012, 1014, and 1017 receive the data item according to the values of FPFlag. Comparing the data item with the one stored on the server, if the two items are different and the client is superior in a collision strategy, subsequent processes can be directly performed, and the server does not need to notify the client to send data via PKG 4.

[0071] 1013 and 1015 receive fingerprints, in which 1013 receives a fingerprint obtained through Change Log algorithm, and 1015 receives a fingerprint obtained through Hash algorithm. Therefore, the fingerprint is compared with the one stored on the server, and subsequent processes are implemented. If the two fingerprints are the same, it indicates that the data on the server and the data on the client are the same, and the terminal does not need to send the data. If the two fingerprints are different, it indicates that the data is changed. At this time, a collision detection strategy is checked, and if the strategy is based on the data on the server, the client does not need to send the data either.

[0072] If the strategy is based on the data on the client, in step 103, the server indicates the client to send the data item. In this manner, some unnecessary data transmission can be avoided by comparing the fingerprints, and thus the traffic is saved.

[0073] The following steps are the same with those in the first embodiment, which is also well known to persons skilled in the art, and the details will not be given herein again.

[0074] FIG. 3 is a schematic structural diagram of a system for realizing a fingerprint technology according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0075] As shown in FIG. 3, the system includes a data sending device 1 and a data receiving device 2.

[0076] The data sending device 1 is configured to determine whether a corresponding fingerprint needs to be generated according to a data item based on preset rules. If it is determined that the corresponding fingerprint needs to be generated according to the data item, fingerprint calculation is performed for the data item, and an obtained fingerprint is sent to the data receiving device 2. If it is determined that the corresponding fingerprint does not need to be generated, a data element is sent to the data receiving device 2.

[0077] Specifically, the data sending device 1 includes a determining module 10, a fingerprint calculating module 11, and a data sending module 12, the structures and functions of which will be described in detail below with FIG. 4.

[0078] The data receiving device 2 is configured to receive the data item from the data sending device 1, and determine whether the data item is a fingerprint or a data element based on the preset rules. If the data item is a fingerprint, the fingerprint is compared with a stored fingerprint, and subsequent processes are implemented according to a comparison result. If the data item is a data element, the data element is compared with a stored data element, and subsequent processes are implemented according to a comparison result.

[0079] Specifically, the data receiving device 2 includes a data storing module 20, a data receiving module 21, a data determining module 22, and a data processing module 23, the structures and functions of which will be described in detail below with FIG. 5.

[0080] FIG. 4 is a schematic structural diagram of the data sending device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0081] The embodiment of the present invention is described by taking a client as the data sending device.

[0082] As shown in FIG. 4, the client includes the determining module 10, the fingerprint calculating module 11, and the data sending module 12.

[0083] The determining module 10 is configured to determine whether a length value of a sent data item is greater than or equal to a preset minimum length value. It should be noted that, the preset minimum length value on the server is indicated with an identification FPLimit. FPLimit is an integer data, which indicates that a corresponding fingerprint is generated according to the data item only when the length of the data item is longer than or equal to a length specified by FPLimit.

[0084] The fingerprint calculating module 11 is configured to generate a corresponding fingerprint according to the data item, that is, to perform fingerprint calculation for the data item, when the determining module determines that the length value of the data item is greater than or equal to the preset minimum length value. The set of fingerprint algorithms supported by the client and the server may be determined through negotiation. During the DS, the client and the server select a sub-set of fingerprint algorithms supported by both sides from the set of supported fingerprint algorithms. When fingerprint calculation is needed for the data item, a fingerprint algorithm is selected from the sub-set to perform the fingerprint calculation, and an obtained fingerprint is sent to the server.

[0085] The data sending module 12 is configured to send the fingerprint generated by the fingerprint calculating module 11 to the data receiving device; or to send the data item (that is, the data element) to the data receiving device when the determining module 10 determines that the length value of the data item is smaller than the preset minimum length value. If the length of the data item is equal to the preset fingerprint length, zeros are added to the data item to make its length value equal to the preset minimum length value FPLimit, and then the data item is sent to the data receiving device. Herein, the data receiving device is a server.

[0086] Optionally, the data sending device (that is, the client 1) further includes an identifying module 13, configured to add an identification FPFlag to the data item sent by the data sending module 12 to the data receiving device. The identification FPFlag indicates whether the data item is the fingerprint obtained through fingerprint calculation or the data item.

[0087] The fingerprint calculating module 11 includes an algorithm negotiating unit 110, an algorithm selecting unit 111, and a fingerprint calculating unit 112.

[0088] The algorithm negotiating unit 110 is configured to negotiate with the data receiving device over the set of fingerprint algorithms supported by both sides. The set of fingerprint algorithms supported by both sides through negotiation between the client and the server is as shown in Table 3.

[0089] The algorithm selecting unit 111 is configured to select a fingerprint algorithm from the set of fingerprint algorithms supported by both sides to calculate the data item when fingerprint calculation needs to be performed for the data item.

[0090] The fingerprint calculating unit 112 is configured to perform fingerprint calculation for the data item that needs to generate a fingerprint with the algorithm selected by the algorithm selecting unit 111. An algorithm type of the data item when the fingerprint calculation is performed is indicated by the identification.

[0091] FIG. 5 is a schematic structural diagram of the data receiving device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0092] The embodiment of the present invention is described by taking a server as the data receiving device.

[0093] As shown in FIG. 5, the server includes the data storing module 20, the data receiving module 21, the data determining module 22, and the data processing module 23.

[0094] The data storing module 20 is configured to store data or a fingerprint, in which the data or fingerprint is used to be compared with a received data element or fingerprint, so as to determine whether the received data element or fingerprint is changed.

[0095] The data receiving module 21 is configured to receive a data item sent from the data sending device (that is, the client).

[0096] The data determining module 22 is configured to determine whether the data item received by the data receiving module 21 is a fingerprint or a data item. If the length of the received data item is shorter than the preset fingerprint length, or is longer than the preset fingerprint length and shorter than the preset minimum length value, it can be directly determined that it is the data item, that is, the data element. If the data length is the preset fingerprint length, it is determined that the data item is a fingerprint. If the data length is the preset minimum length value, it is determined that the data item is a data element (that is, the data item), and the data item is truncated to the preset fingerprint length value, and directly compared with the data stored in the data storing module 20.

[0097] It should be noted that, the set of the fingerprint algorithms supported by the client and the server may be determined through negotiation. The client and the server select a sub-set of fingerprint algorithms supported by both sides from the set of supported fingerprint algorithms. When fingerprint calculation is needed for the data item, a fingerprint algorithm is selected from the sub-set to perform the calculation, and is optionally identified by FPFlag. The obtained fingerprint is sent to the server. FPFlag is an integer data. If FPFlag=0, it indicates that the data item is to be sent. If FPFlag≠0, it indicates that the fingerprint of the data item is to be sent. Different values of FPFlag are adopted to identify different fingerprint algorithms.

[0098] The data processing module 23 is configured to compare the fingerprint with a stored fingerprint when the data determining module 22 determines that the received data item is the fingerprint, and subsequent processes are implemented according to a comparison result. If the data item is a data element, the data element is compared with data stored in the data storing module 20. If the length of the data item is the minimum present length value, the data item is truncated to the preset fingerprint length value and directly compared with the data stored in the data storing module 20, and subsequent processes are implemented according to a comparison result.

[0099] FIG. 6 is a schematic structural diagram of the data processing module 23 in the data receiving device 2 as shown in FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 6, the data processing module 23 includes a fingerprint processing unit 230 and a data processing unit 231.

[0100] The fingerprint processing unit 230 is configured to compare the fingerprint with the one stored in the data storing module 20 when the data determining module 22 determines that the data item received by the data receiving module 21 is a fingerprint, and implement subsequent processes according to the comparison result.

[0101] The data processing unit 231 is configured to compare the data item with the data stored in the data storing module 20 when the data determining module 22 determines that the data item received by the data receiving module 21 is a data element (that is, the data item), and implement subsequent processes according to the comparison result.

[0102] The fingerprint processing unit 230 includes a fingerprint comparing sub-unit 2300.

[0103] The fingerprint comparing sub-unit 2300 is configured to compare the fingerprint with the stored fingerprint when the data determining module 22 determines that the received data item is the fingerprint. If the two fingerprints are the same, the data stored in the data storing module 20 does not need to be updated; if the two fingerprints are different, it indicates that the data item of the data sending device is changed.

[0104] The fingerprint processing unit 230 further includes a determining sub-unit 2301, configured to check a collision detection strategy and determine whether the data sending device needs to send the data item. If the collision detection strategy is based on the data on the data receiving device, the data sending device does not need to send the data item. If the collision detection strategy is based on the data on the data sending device, the fingerprint processing unit 230 further includes an indicating sub-unit 2302 and a data updating sub-unit 2303.

[0105] The indicating sub-unit 2302 is configured to indicate the data sending device to send the data element.

[0106] The data updating sub-unit 2303 is configured to update the data stored in the data storage unit 20 into the received data element.

[0107] The data processing unit 231 includes a data comparing sub-unit 2310.

[0108] The data comparing sub-unit 2310 is configured to compare the data element with the data stored in the data storing module 20 when the data determining module 22 determines that the received data item is a data element. If the two fingerprints are the same, the data stored in the data storing module 20 does not need to be updated; if the two fingerprints are different, it indicates that the data item of the data sending device is changed.

[0109] The data processing unit 231 further includes a determining sub-unit 2311, configured to check a collision detection strategy and determine whether the data sending device needs to send the data item. If the collision detection strategy is based on the data of the data receiving device, the data stored in the data storage device 20 does not need to be updated. If the collision detection strategy is based on the data of the data sending device, the data processing unit 231 further includes a data updating sub-unit 2312.

[0110] The data updating sub-module 2312 is configured to update the data stored in the data storage unit 20 into the received data element.

[0111] Through the descriptions of the preceding embodiments, those skilled in the art may understand that the present invention may be implemented by hardware only or by software and a necessary universal hardware platform. Based on such understandings, all or part of the technical solution under the present invention that makes contributions to the prior art may be essentially embodied in the form of a software product. The software product may be stored in a storage medium, which can be a magnetic disk, a Compact Disk Read-Only Memory (CD-ROM), a Read-Only Memory (ROM) or a Random Access Memory (RAM). The software product includes a number of instructions that enable a computer device (personal computer, server, or network device) to execute the methods provided in the embodiments of the present invention.

[0112] In the method and system for realizing a fingerprint technology, the data sending device, and the data receiving device provided in the embodiments of the present invention, by presetting a minimum length for the data that requires fingerprint calculation, whether a corresponding fingerprint needs to be generated for the data item is determined, and whether the fingerprint or the data item is sent is determined accordingly. Moreover, an identification is set for each data item to notify the receiver whether a fingerprint or a data item is sent, and to notify the receiver of the used fingerprint algorithm. In this way, fingerprint calculation for data items with short length and undesired data transmission during the DS are avoided, and the efficiency of the DS is improved.

[0113] It should be noted that the above descriptions are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention, and those skilled in the art may make various improvements and refinements without departing from the spirit of the invention. All such modifications and refinements are intended to be covered by the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for realizing a fingerprint technology, comprising:

determining whether a corresponding fingerprint needs to be generated according to a data item based on preset rules; and

if it is determined that the corresponding fingerprint needs to be generated according to the data item, fingerprint calculation is performed for the data item, and an obtained fingerprint is sent to a data receiver; or if it is determined that the corresponding fingerprint does not need to be generated according to the data item, a data element is sent to the data receiver.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determining whether the corresponding fingerprint needs to be generated according to the data item based on the preset rules comprises:

determining whether a length value of the data item is greater than or equal to a preset minimum length value, and if the length value of the data item is greater than or equal to the preset minimum length value, the corresponding fingerprint needs to be generated according to the data item; or if the length value of the data item is smaller than the preset minimum length value, the corresponding fingerprint does not need to be generated according to the data item.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein fingerprint calculation is performed for the data item with a length value greater than or equal to the preset minimum length value to obtain a fingerprint with a preset fingerprint length value; and as for the data item with the preset fingerprint length value, zeros are added to the data item till the length of the data item increases to the minimum length value.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a data sender adds an identification to the data item so as to indicate to the data receiver whether the data item is a data element or a fingerprint.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising:

negotiating, by the data sender and the data receiver, over a set of fingerprint algorithms supported by both sides; and

when fingerprint calculation needs to be performed for the data item, selecting, by the data sender, a fingerprint algorithm from the set of fingerprint algorithms supported by both sides to calculate the data item, wherein an algorithm type used in the fingerprint calculation for the data item is indicated by the identification.

6. A method for realizing a fingerprint technology, comprising:

receiving a data item from a data sender; and

determining whether the data item is a fingerprint or a data element based on preset rules, wherein if the data item is a fingerprint, the fingerprint is compared with a stored fingerprint, and subsequent processes are implemented according to a comparison result; or if the data item is a data element, the data element is compared with a stored data element, and subsequent processes are implemented according to a comparison result.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the determining whether the data item is a fingerprint or a data element based on the preset rules comprises:

determining whether a length value of the data item is equal to a preset fingerprint length value after fingerprint calculation, wherein if the length value of the data item is equal to the preset fingerprint length value, it is determined that the data item is the fingerprint obtained through fingerprint calculation; or if the length value of the data item is unequal to the preset fingerprint length value, it is determined that the data item is the data element.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the determining whether the data item is a fingerprint or a data element based on the preset rules comprises:

determining whether the data item indicated by the identification carried in the data item is the fingerprint obtained through fingerprint calculation or the data element, wherein the identification also indicates an algorithm type of the fingerprint calculation for the data item.

9. The method according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the comparing the fingerprint with the store fingerprint, and implementing subsequent processes according to the comparison result comprises:

comparing the fingerprint with the stored fingerprint, wherein if the two fingerprints are the same, the data stored by the data receiver does not need to be updated; or if the two fingerprints are different, it indicates that the data item of the data sender is changed, a collision detection strategy is checked, and whether the data sender needs to send the data item is determined.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the checking the collision detection strategy and determining whether the data sender needs to send the data item comprises:

checking the collision detection strategy, wherein if the strategy is based on the data on the data receiver, it is determined that the data sender does not need to send the data item; or if the strategy is based on the data on the data sender, it is determined that the data sender needs to send the data item, and the data sender is indicated to send the data item.

11. A data sending device, comprising:

a determining module, configured to determine whether a length value of a sent data item is greater than or equal to a preset minimum length value;

a fingerprint calculating module, configured to generate a corresponding fingerprint according to the data item when the determining module determines that the length value of the data item is greater than or equal to the preset minimum length value; and

a data sending module, configured to send the fingerprint generated by the fingerprint calculating module to a data receiving device; or send a data element to the data receiving device when the determining module determines that the length value of the data item is smaller than the preset minimum length value.

12. The data sending device according to claim 11, further comprising:

an identifying module, configured to add an identification to the data item sent by the data sending module, wherein the identification indicates whether the data item is a fingerprint or a data element.

13. The data sending device according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the fingerprint calculating module comprises:

an algorithm negotiating unit, configured to negotiate with the data receiving device over a set of fingerprint algorithms supported by both sides;

an algorithm selecting unit, configured to select a fingerprint algorithm from the set of fingerprint algorithms supported by both sides to calculate the data item when fingerprint calculation needs to be performed for the data item; and

a fingerprint calculating unit, configured to perform fingerprint calculation for the data item that needs to generate a fingerprint with the algorithm selected by the algorithm selecting unit, wherein an algorithm type of the data item is indicated by the identification when the fingerprint calculation is performed.

14. A data receiving device, comprising:

a data storing module, configured to store data or a fingerprint, wherein the data or the fingerprint is used to be compared with a received data element or a received fingerprint, so as to determine whether the received data element or the received fingerprint is changed;

a data receiving module, configured to receive a data item sent by a data sending device;

a data determining module, configured to determine whether the data item received by the data receiving module is a fingerprint or a data element based on preset rules; and

a data processing module, configured to compare the fingerprint with a stored fingerprint when the data determining module determines that the received data item is a fingerprint, and implement subsequent processes according to a comparison result; or to compare the data element with stored data when the data determining module determines that the received data item is a data element, and implement subsequent processes according to a comparison result.

15. The data receiving device according to claim 14, wherein the data processing module comprises:

a fingerprint processing unit, configured to compare the fingerprint with the stored fingerprint when the data determining module determines that the received data item is the fingerprint, and implement subsequent processes according to the comparison result; and

a data processing unit, configured to compare the data element with the stored data when the data determining module determines that the received data item is the data element, and implement subsequent processes according to the comparison result.

16. The data receiving device according to claim 15, wherein the fingerprint processing unit comprises:

a fingerprint comparing sub-unit, configured to compare the fingerprint with the stored fingerprint when the data determining module determines that the received data item is the fingerprint, wherein if the two fingerprints are the same, the data stored in the data receiving device does not need to be updated; or if the two fingerprints are different, it indicates that the data item of the data sending device is changed; and

the fingerprint processing unit further comprises: a determining sub-unit, configured to check a collision detection strategy and determine whether the data sending device needs to send the data item, wherein if the collision detection strategy is based on the data on the data receiving device, the data sending device does not need to send the data item; or if the collision detection strategy is based on the data on the data sending device, the fingerprint processing unit further comprises:

an indicating sub-unit, configured to indicate the data sending device to send the data element; and

a data updating sub-unit, configured to update the stored data item into the received data element.

17. The data receiving device according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the data processing unit comprises:

a data comparing sub-unit, configured to compare the data element with the stored data when the data determining module determines that the received data item is the data element, wherein if the two data elements are the same, the data stored in the data receiver does not need to be updated; or if the two data elements are different, it indicates that the data item of the data sending device is changed; and

the data processing unit further comprises: a determining sub-unit, configured to check the collision detection strategy and determine whether the data stored in the data receiving device needs to be updated, wherein if the collision detection strategy is based on the data on the data receiving device, the data on the data receiving device does not need to be updated; or if the collision detection strategy is based on the data on the data sending device, the data processing unit further comprises:

a data updating sub-unit, configured to update the data item stored in the data receiving device into the received data.

18. A system for realizing a fingerprint technology, comprising:

a data sending device, configured to determine whether a corresponding fingerprint needs to be generated according to a data item based on preset rules, wherein if it is determined that the corresponding fingerprint needs to be generated according to the data item, fingerprint calculation is performed for the data item, and an obtained fingerprint is sent to a data receiving device; or if it is determined that the corresponding fingerprint does not need to be generated , a data element is sent to the data receiving device; and

the data receiving device, configured to receive the data item from the data sending device, and determine whether the data item is a fingerprint or a data element based on the preset rules, wherein if the data item is a fingerprint, the fingerprint is compared with a stored fingerprint, and subsequent processes are implemented according to a comparison result; or if the data item is a data element, the data element is compared with a stored data element, and subsequent processes are implemented according to a comparison result.

Drawing